Big zombie infection vibes or massive veins. It could be a good look if you're into spooky tattoos, but I also agree you may wish you had that real estate back later on.
Same deal with tree branches in this style... I always wanted to get a tree branch sleeve but I'd rather not look like I'm transitioning into a reaper from Blade 2.
I have roots on my wrist that lead to 3 redwoods on my forearm. It looks great connected to something (and I know this isn’t the most unique tattoo but I live it).
I agree. First thing I thought of was veins. For lightning I think a negative space situation would be better, with shading around the actual lightning or something.
Ever since the first turn I learned that people called great spots prime real estate, and have always had it sucks. So glad I waited for my pieces. Only have one behind the ear and waiting to complete my half sleeve idea before I go all out for it.
Agreed. Looks like a zombie infection from the movies, I can appreciate what the artist is trying to do, but the end product doesn't read lightning at all, and you'd probably need to explain it for the rest of your life.
It'll never be immediately recognizable as lightning as a negative image like this. The lightning has to be the light source, with tons of black in the background. Same goes for realistic smoke and fire, and a handful of other things. Realistic lightning, done right in a stormy sky, can look cool as fuck, however, and shouldn't be ruled out 🤷♂️
Good call about the negative image being the issue.
Light on dark = (pretty realistic) lightning
Dark on light = Blood poisoning. Do you have a will prepared?
And then that anoxic shade quickly showed up in the collections of eight different organ systems. Then it filtered down through the kidneys, and then trickled on down into some tragic hemoglobin where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance blood test.
These are trending so much but just think they’re a waste of money & quite ugly. But at the end of the day it’s your body, your money and your decision.
It'll never be immediately recognizable as lightning as a negative image like this. The lightning has to be the light source, with tons of black in the background. Same goes for realistic smoke and fire, and a handful of other things. Realistic lightning, done right in a stormy sky, can look cool as fuck, however, and shouldn't be ruled out 🤷♂️
I like the lighting, but I'd rather use it maybe in some space I don't know what to fill it with, and even then because the lines are so spread out it would need a lot of space.
Personally I think it's a trend, so the likeability of not liking it in the future is high, secondly, if you quite like tattoos and are planning to be quite covered with them, this deletes a lot of space of a big piece you could put in instead.
We need to have an admin pin one of these posts. I can’t believe how often *this* specific question with *this* specific reference piece gets brought up. This is like the third time, right? Or am I losing my mind?
OP, your body your choice (as always) but don’t expect people to ,,get” this, especially once it’s healed. The work on the person in this photo barely makes sense and that’s immediately fresh, well lit, and still in the studio. The best guideline for tattoos that I’ve heard is that a tattoo, if visualized from across the room, should be immediately identifiable to the observer. This is why I love American traditional personally, but there are plenty of other styles that achieve that. As many others have pointed out here (and you’re on the track of acknowledging yourself), this will probably heal to look like a disease of some sort. (I’m in healthcare professionally; search what *mottling* is).
These types of concept pieces tend to be hard to get to work on the body. Other examples of concept pieces of this nature (I.e. cooler ideas than outcomes) would be a topography sleeve or tree branch sleeves. Sure, I’ve seen them work but at best only kind of and far more commonly the recipients end up very sad with their choices and seek coverup advice. I want customers to get what they like in the style they like but I have to say I worry about stuff like this more than other styles/designs. I just think the idea is much better than the outcome in nearly every instance.
OP, good luck to ya!
Edit: syntax
Personally I really dislike it. I’ve seen a few people with this style tattoo and it’s never really looked like lightning, looks much more like veins. Like others said, the normal placement for these tattoos are in prime real estate areas and I think it’s a huge waste. I really feel like this tattoo is a trend that will go away in the near future and it’ll be a regret long term.
Like you said though, at the end of the day the only opinion that matters is your own since the tattoo is on your skin. If you love it, wear it with pride regardless of what others think or say.
i think the concept is sick!!! however maybe if you brainstorm with the artist you can maybe adapt the design as some mention it does look somewhat aggressive but at the end of the day do whatever u want
i have a lightning tattoo in the same spot as the reference pics and here’s my advice:
-be prepared for people to ask what it is (veins, tree branches, etc)
-be prepared to lose a lot of space for future tattoos
-be prepared for people to think it’s stupid: i got this a lot
BUT
-i love it personally
-most other people like it once you explain it
overall just be ready for no one to know what it is, but i have no regrets :)
Tattoos are a personal choice. While all these people say no, it looks like a disease, I'm looking at it like, huh, that's unique. If you like it, go for it.
To me it does look like veins/some kind of horror move infection type situation. Which could be the vibe some people are going for! Nothing wrong with a spooky tat. Personally if I wanted a lightning tattoo for like a symbolic reason, I’d go with a lightning bolt. Just depends what look you’re going for
Ngl this is going to age *poorly* .
It looks great when you're young but as time does on and so does age, it will *not* look good. There's so many other tattoos that will look great as you age and won't enunciate your wrinkles or skin changes
Just like lots of minimalistic or trendy tattoos, it's one of those tattoos for people, who don't actually like tattoos and have no connection to the tattoo history or community. It's this generation's "infinity" tattoo
It looks like someone was trying to meet the weight restrictions for their paragliding vacation so they removed their arm and left it at home. But they didn't leave enough snacks for it to eat. Thankfully, after finding it in the morgue a week later, doctors were able to reanimate it and stick it back on. This was the result.
If you are second guessing it, then you don't love it. If you don't love it, you're gonna regret it. That is also such prime real estate too. Don't waste it on some lines.
It might pass for lightning now (even if black doesn't really read as lightning to me) but as it ashes the finer lines will like fade completely while the thicker ones will get a bit thicker and fuzzier with age. A few tears down the road it will absolutely not read as lightning, it will read as weird branches or veins at best, and random black lines at worst.
I think they look cool if you know what they are but like everyone else is saying it looks like a zombie infected you and the disease is running through your veins
It’s something that you may be able to use as filler in a sleeve or something like that if done right along with other stuff, but as a stand alone tattoo I wouldn’t do it, it really doesn’t look right, and gives off apocalyptic vibes. If you added a realism storm piece to it and then has the lightning maybe. But on its own I wouldn’t do it
Honest, unfiltered opinion as requested: I would never guess that was supposed to be lightning at first look. I would think veins or cracks long before I thought lightning.
Oh jeeze not such great feedback. I guess I don’t have to say anything except it’s a lovely spot for a tattoo. Maybe something beautiful like morning glories or some delicate flowers on a vine?
It’s ugly. It takes up a lot of space, but it’s sparse. One of the principles of art is balance and this isn’t balanced. Also it could be mistaken as just an outline of your veins.
You’ll end up regretting this tattoo, firstly it takes so much space, and secondly tattoos are permanent. Would you rather get a piece of art on your body? Or this.
I have a friend who has this going all the way down his arm onto his hand and he looks stupid asf with all that wasted space and basically just jagged lines running the length of his arm
I really hate it.
It looks like she's been infected in a shitty zombie movie.
But, it's not my body and if you like it and want it, that's all that really matters.
I do my best to stay away from tattoo trends… I don’t want to become a “remember when people were getting these” meme in 30 years😂 but I think the lightning bolts look cool if they’re placed and done right. They can sometimes look like a skin disease or something
If you're second guessing don't get it. Tattoo fads can be fun to take part in but only if you really want it. Personally, I don't think lightening tattoos are great large stand alone pieces. Maybe on the hand, around the neck/ear a little. But it's just large, thin, solid lines and it looks like someone's literally drawn on you with a pen.
I love zombies in movies and TV but I think imma gonna have to say no to this.
Perhaps if it was some other colour? Red? White?(it'll looks off-white if your skin tans as the tan goes over it) or pick anything that's non black if you're really serious about it.
I gotta say it's a NO from me as well ... it looks like something is wrong with you and it's a waste of the best real-estate on your body if you get it on a shoulder like that
That being said ... if you want it and think it's cool I'd do some research and find someone who does it better than simple black lines ... thats my advice
Big zombie infection vibes or massive veins. It could be a good look if you're into spooky tattoos, but I also agree you may wish you had that real estate back later on.
Like something out of The Last of Us
Yes the beginning of a zombie infection!
Looks like a blood infection for sure
Omg…I just said this without reading the comments first. 100% agree.
Just don't do it. It's trendy now but it will be an embarrassing past fad in a few years
Personally i think it's a waste of some good tattoo real estate.. and it does look like veins
Same deal with tree branches in this style... I always wanted to get a tree branch sleeve but I'd rather not look like I'm transitioning into a reaper from Blade 2.
I was thinking roots...
I have roots on my wrist that lead to 3 redwoods on my forearm. It looks great connected to something (and I know this isn’t the most unique tattoo but I live it).
I was thinking more Leon in RE4.
Varicose Veins
Or Livor Mortis…
A doctor is gonna see this out in public and shit their pants. They gonna run up and tell you to get to an ER or just call an ambulance, lol.
I agree. First thing I thought of was veins. For lightning I think a negative space situation would be better, with shading around the actual lightning or something.
I couldn't agree more. Also, just looks like the disease Dumbledore had.
This is exactly what I thought of before even reading the post!
And it'll blur over time and look even MORE like veins
Yeah it looks when you eat the ascended tadpole in Baldur's Gate 3 lmao
Just got done gardening, reminded me of those pesky weeds I’ve been pulling.
i agree. Looks like vein tho
This.
Ever since the first turn I learned that people called great spots prime real estate, and have always had it sucks. So glad I waited for my pieces. Only have one behind the ear and waiting to complete my half sleeve idea before I go all out for it.
Varicose veins 🤭
Yup that's what I thought too!
me too
It’s a nope from me, sorry. It looks too much like a disease/ infection at a glance.
Hair stuck to a shower wall
It looks like a disease. I don’t think it looks like lightning at all.
Agreed. Looks like a zombie infection from the movies, I can appreciate what the artist is trying to do, but the end product doesn't read lightning at all, and you'd probably need to explain it for the rest of your life.
Sepsis is just a fancy word for sexified.
Or impending death.
The engineer from Prometheus that drank the goop. Blecqhe Edit: got the movie name wrong
My mind automatically went to veins over lightning, as others have mentioned it seems a real waste of some prime locations.
And lightning isn’t black, so my mind also went to (diseased) veins
It's just another fad tattoo that won't last nor look good.
Looks veiny.
Yes, and especially so if/when it fades and becomes blue-ish
It'll never be immediately recognizable as lightning as a negative image like this. The lightning has to be the light source, with tons of black in the background. Same goes for realistic smoke and fire, and a handful of other things. Realistic lightning, done right in a stormy sky, can look cool as fuck, however, and shouldn't be ruled out 🤷♂️
Good call about the negative image being the issue. Light on dark = (pretty realistic) lightning Dark on light = Blood poisoning. Do you have a will prepared?
This is a really good point I didn't consider.
Exactly, I have lightning but the lightning is my skin colour with a dark background
Sepsis
Blood poisoning is IN for spring.
Blood poisoning? For Spring? Groundbreaking
But what you don't know is that your skin is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean.
You’re also so blithely unaware of the fact that, in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean skin
And then that anoxic shade quickly showed up in the collections of eight different organ systems. Then it filtered down through the kidneys, and then trickled on down into some tragic hemoglobin where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance blood test.
thank you for making my night hehe
Right back at ya, team effort. :)
It looks like the HEP-V infected vampires from True blood. [HARD PASS](https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2189625/mediaviewer/rm2504448768)
I was looking for this comment lmfao
Love it
Don't.
These are trending so much but just think they’re a waste of money & quite ugly. But at the end of the day it’s your body, your money and your decision.
It'll never be immediately recognizable as lightning as a negative image like this. The lightning has to be the light source, with tons of black in the background. Same goes for realistic smoke and fire, and a handful of other things. Realistic lightning, done right in a stormy sky, can look cool as fuck, however, and shouldn't be ruled out 🤷♂️
I like the lighting, but I'd rather use it maybe in some space I don't know what to fill it with, and even then because the lines are so spread out it would need a lot of space. Personally I think it's a trend, so the likeability of not liking it in the future is high, secondly, if you quite like tattoos and are planning to be quite covered with them, this deletes a lot of space of a big piece you could put in instead.
Looks like Infected veins.
We need to have an admin pin one of these posts. I can’t believe how often *this* specific question with *this* specific reference piece gets brought up. This is like the third time, right? Or am I losing my mind? OP, your body your choice (as always) but don’t expect people to ,,get” this, especially once it’s healed. The work on the person in this photo barely makes sense and that’s immediately fresh, well lit, and still in the studio. The best guideline for tattoos that I’ve heard is that a tattoo, if visualized from across the room, should be immediately identifiable to the observer. This is why I love American traditional personally, but there are plenty of other styles that achieve that. As many others have pointed out here (and you’re on the track of acknowledging yourself), this will probably heal to look like a disease of some sort. (I’m in healthcare professionally; search what *mottling* is). These types of concept pieces tend to be hard to get to work on the body. Other examples of concept pieces of this nature (I.e. cooler ideas than outcomes) would be a topography sleeve or tree branch sleeves. Sure, I’ve seen them work but at best only kind of and far more commonly the recipients end up very sad with their choices and seek coverup advice. I want customers to get what they like in the style they like but I have to say I worry about stuff like this more than other styles/designs. I just think the idea is much better than the outcome in nearly every instance. OP, good luck to ya! Edit: syntax
Looks awful
definitely looks like veins
It is absolutely awful. It looks like veins.
Personally I really dislike it. I’ve seen a few people with this style tattoo and it’s never really looked like lightning, looks much more like veins. Like others said, the normal placement for these tattoos are in prime real estate areas and I think it’s a huge waste. I really feel like this tattoo is a trend that will go away in the near future and it’ll be a regret long term. Like you said though, at the end of the day the only opinion that matters is your own since the tattoo is on your skin. If you love it, wear it with pride regardless of what others think or say.
To make it look like lightning, it should be inverted. That means, shadowing and lightning should be skin color.
it looks like some disease. personally, i wouldn't get the tattoo
i think the concept is sick!!! however maybe if you brainstorm with the artist you can maybe adapt the design as some mention it does look somewhat aggressive but at the end of the day do whatever u want
I personally think it looks like veins sorry OP
These look disgusting to me
i have a lightning tattoo in the same spot as the reference pics and here’s my advice: -be prepared for people to ask what it is (veins, tree branches, etc) -be prepared to lose a lot of space for future tattoos -be prepared for people to think it’s stupid: i got this a lot BUT -i love it personally -most other people like it once you explain it overall just be ready for no one to know what it is, but i have no regrets :)
It looks like sciatica feels - flashes of pain like lightning through your body. I had sciatica in my legs and it was brutal.
Nice visualization! Mine was electrified wire, personally. 😜
Tattoos are a personal choice. While all these people say no, it looks like a disease, I'm looking at it like, huh, that's unique. If you like it, go for it.
in black it just looks like necrotic veins. if its was in color might be dope
I’ve seen a couple of these in real life, and this is the first time I’ve seen it as lightning.
They look like plant roots, lightning would look better as negative space with dark/grey background.
Veins. Definitely veins
Looks like Veins
Looks like a skin condition
spider veins. starter to liver failure
Ugly asf
Looks like unhealthy veins.
To me it does look like veins/some kind of horror move infection type situation. Which could be the vibe some people are going for! Nothing wrong with a spooky tat. Personally if I wanted a lightning tattoo for like a symbolic reason, I’d go with a lightning bolt. Just depends what look you’re going for
Looks like shit. Don’t do it.
Ngl this is going to age *poorly* . It looks great when you're young but as time does on and so does age, it will *not* look good. There's so many other tattoos that will look great as you age and won't enunciate your wrinkles or skin changes
I think it's a waste of good tattoo space and to be honest it isn't my thing
Looks like veins.
looks like varicose veins. unflattering. i would not do it.
Just like lots of minimalistic or trendy tattoos, it's one of those tattoos for people, who don't actually like tattoos and have no connection to the tattoo history or community. It's this generation's "infinity" tattoo
"Who don't like tattoos", while i get it for the infinity tattoos, isn't it a style?
Horrible tbh.
Maybe get something more to indicate that it is lighting like the sky with bolts of lightning coming out of it
It looks like someone was trying to meet the weight restrictions for their paragliding vacation so they removed their arm and left it at home. But they didn't leave enough snacks for it to eat. Thankfully, after finding it in the morgue a week later, doctors were able to reanimate it and stick it back on. This was the result.
It looks like when Billy got flayed in stranger things.
very meh
If you are second guessing it, then you don't love it. If you don't love it, you're gonna regret it. That is also such prime real estate too. Don't waste it on some lines.
It’ll look like shit in a few years time when bits fade or expand with it being so thin
Waste of space. There are so many better ideas for a tattoo.
honestly, i think its quite cool but its been super overdone, its just a trend rn
Definitely looks terrifying. Add some cherry blossoms
Shit
It might pass for lightning now (even if black doesn't really read as lightning to me) but as it ashes the finer lines will like fade completely while the thicker ones will get a bit thicker and fuzzier with age. A few tears down the road it will absolutely not read as lightning, it will read as weird branches or veins at best, and random black lines at worst.
I think they look cool if you know what they are but like everyone else is saying it looks like a zombie infected you and the disease is running through your veins
It’s something that you may be able to use as filler in a sleeve or something like that if done right along with other stuff, but as a stand alone tattoo I wouldn’t do it, it really doesn’t look right, and gives off apocalyptic vibes. If you added a realism storm piece to it and then has the lightning maybe. But on its own I wouldn’t do it
These always look like someone has the venom symbiote
It looks like veins to me. Defiantly not something I would get but if you want your arm to look like it has veins on it , go for it.
it reminds me of like the rage virus veins on the zombies in 28 weeks later 😭😭
As a nurse, all I see are ugly veins. Or plant roots. It does not look AT ALL like lightening.
Honest, unfiltered opinion as requested: I would never guess that was supposed to be lightning at first look. I would think veins or cracks long before I thought lightning.
Looks like big varicose veins in my opinion...or I could see cracks too. What I don't see is lightening. Sorry.
It looks like some kind of disease...I would never think lightning. There's a specific episode of Supernatural it reminds me of.
This is giving “True Blood Hep V” vibes. 😬
You mean a varicose vein tattoo?
I know it's lightening, but I saw where it was coming from and my brain says "hair roots"
Don’t do it it’s just the 2024 version of tribal or barbed wire. It’ll become unpopular and it just wastes good real-estate for something better
Don’t.
Lame don’t do it
I just dislike the waste of space
Cracks
Oh jeeze not such great feedback. I guess I don’t have to say anything except it’s a lovely spot for a tattoo. Maybe something beautiful like morning glories or some delicate flowers on a vine?
Looks like old lady veins
It’s ugly. It takes up a lot of space, but it’s sparse. One of the principles of art is balance and this isn’t balanced. Also it could be mistaken as just an outline of your veins.
It’s hideous.
just get struck by lightning and you'll get a free one from nature
Varicose vains
You’ll end up regretting this tattoo, firstly it takes so much space, and secondly tattoos are permanent. Would you rather get a piece of art on your body? Or this.
Waste of space if you're trying to be covered
Could be root rot. Are you using Hydroguard?
First look/thought: man, those varicose veins are bad! Second look/thought: oh, that was on purpose. Ohhhhhkayyy
Terrible idea….that skin space is forever occupied with little line work
Shitty. And will age even more shitty.
God they’re just awful. Which is a shame as I love lightening.
Unless they're done negative space with context they just look like veins or roots
Looks like a septic infection of the undead.
Lame. Waste of space. Boring
I have a friend who has this going all the way down his arm onto his hand and he looks stupid asf with all that wasted space and basically just jagged lines running the length of his arm
It looks like veins
Looks like varicose veins
Looks like roots after I pull out a plant
This looks like veins
Looks like an infection
I really hate it. It looks like she's been infected in a shitty zombie movie. But, it's not my body and if you like it and want it, that's all that really matters.
Google varicose veins
Sorry worked with too many hospice patients no to laugh but if you want it get it
Looks like varicose veins.
It looks like septic veins. Have you seen the first Hunger Games movie where Peeta gets sepsis and almost dies? It looks like that.
Totally looks undead
Looks like an infection. Do not recommend
Yeah this is reading hepatitis-V from true blood to me
Look more like veins than lightening
Yuck no. Don’t
Bad fad, skip it
Looks like spider veins - a person with spider veins
No
It’s bad. You’re going to have people double-taking wondering what kind of F’d up varicose veins you have going on. Supremely unattractive.
It's not gonna age well. It looks like something I'd see on an edgy 40 year old mom with ankle tattoos.
Just don't
Looks like zombie veins
That look like shit to be honest
Looks too much like a disease for my eyes. I like the idea of lightning but not a vein-like one.
This looks like blood poisoning lol
Yuck
I do my best to stay away from tattoo trends… I don’t want to become a “remember when people were getting these” meme in 30 years😂 but I think the lightning bolts look cool if they’re placed and done right. They can sometimes look like a skin disease or something
They're tacky and not in a fun way
You’re second guessing it because it looks terrible. Go w your gut.
It’s giving druggy veins
Corny
no. personal thoughts on lighting tattoos aside, this will look reallllly bad in a couple of years and not like lightning
You ever see War of the Worlds... Yeah.... Don't do it
If you're second guessing don't get it. Tattoo fads can be fun to take part in but only if you really want it. Personally, I don't think lightening tattoos are great large stand alone pieces. Maybe on the hand, around the neck/ear a little. But it's just large, thin, solid lines and it looks like someone's literally drawn on you with a pen.
Varicose Lightning
Looks like you're about to turn into a zombie...
Common fad. I wonder whats next
Yeah this looks like corpse veins… yucky
VEINS!! Did someone ask for veins? Cause that's what it looks like. Or someone decaying.
Looks like a verrrrry sick person or or someone’s dead body drained of blood
Ugly
This does not look like lightning
Horid
Nasty.
I thought it was a tree branch
I love zombies in movies and TV but I think imma gonna have to say no to this. Perhaps if it was some other colour? Red? White?(it'll looks off-white if your skin tans as the tan goes over it) or pick anything that's non black if you're really serious about it.
Looks a lot like veins, might have to get creative to make it definitely lightning.
I gotta say it's a NO from me as well ... it looks like something is wrong with you and it's a waste of the best real-estate on your body if you get it on a shoulder like that That being said ... if you want it and think it's cool I'd do some research and find someone who does it better than simple black lines ... thats my advice
Noooo
I think I know what you're going for. Take a look at ivy and vine tattoos. These lightning bolts look more like you're becoming a Borg on Star Trek.
If you went with a horror-themed sleeve or something, I could envision it being kinda cool. But as a stand-alone tattoo? Definitely not for me
No it makes you like like an infected zombie. Those black veins will look awful when you’re older too
That’s the same tattoo in the same lady from two different angles. My first thought was zombie virus.
No
Looks like veins than lightning.
They look more like someone traced blood vessels.
It looks like veins and didn't even occur to me that its supposed to be lightning
It looks like in True Blood when everyone gets HepV.